New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Danimin`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Danimin, characterized by the combined features of very large, pink flowers with red-purple centers, solid dark green leaves, wide growth habit with excellent self branching, early flowering, and its suitability for pot or hanging basket culture.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens, commercially known asNew Guinea Impatiens, and known by the cultivar name `Danimin`.

Danimin was developed by the inventor Gaby Danziger in a controlledbreeding program in Mishmar Hashiba, Israel by crossing the cultivaridentified as `1-98` (seed parent), with the cultivar identified as`3-16` (pollen parent). Both cultivars are proprietary.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings taken by theinventor at Mishmar Hashiva, Israel has shown that the unique featuresof this new impatiens plant are stabilized and are reproduced true totype in successive propagations.

The following characteristics in combination distinguish the newimpatiens plant from both its parent varieties and other cultivatedimpatiens of this type known and used in the floriculture industry:

1. Very large, light pink flowers, with red-purple centers.

2. Solid dark green leaves.

3. Wide or spreading growth habit, with excellent self branching.

4. Early and prolific flowering.

5. Its suitability for pot or hanging basket culture.

In the accompanying colored photographic drawings, the photograph at thetop of the sheet comprises a top view showing the overall appearance ofa typical plant the new cultivar, with the photograph at the bottom ofthe sheet showing flowers and foliage in much greater detail. In thephotos, true flower color is most accurately depicted in the top view ofthe plant.

Danimin is particularly distinguished by its very large light pinkflowers, early and prolific flowering, and its solid dark green leaves,and those combined characteristics are unique. When compared to thecultivar `Melanie`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,368, `Danimin`has a darker red-purple center eye, a larger flower, a narrower leaf,and a more compact growth habit.

The following is a detailed description of my new impatiens cultivarbased on plants produced under commercial practice in Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The plants were grown in a net-covered greenhouse during springtime, with a maximum temperature of 30° C. and a minimum temperature of18° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticulture Society Color chartexcept where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: Seedling from `1-98`×`3-16`.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Leaf cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--7-8 days at 25° C. in summer and 8-9 days at20° C. in winter.

Rooting habit.--Roots well, about 20-25 roots per plant, eachapproximately, 2-3 cm in length and 0.5-1.0 mm thick.

Plant description:

Form--Plant is relatively large in diameter with good self branching. Asmeasured 4 months after planting a single young plant in a 16 cm pot,the plant was approximately 26-50 cm in height and 21-60 cm in width.

Habit.--Wide or spreading growth habit.

Foliage (mature).--Size: Approximately 80 mm long and 30 mm wide. Shape:Oblong, leaf apex is acuminate; texture is typical for the species.Margin: Serrated. Color: Young foliage, top side 139A, under side 137C;mature foliage, top side 139A, under side 137C. Venation: Primary veinis 59C; top midrib is 66C.

Flowering description:

Flowering habits.--Prolific flowering, with many flowers developingabove the foliage, and covering the entire plant. Initiation of flowerbuds takes about 51 days after planting.

Natural flowering season.--Flowering is year around in temperaturesbetween 5C. and 25C.; not tolerant to frost.

Flower buds.--There are 3-6 buds on each axil, with each bud beforeopening being oval shape and 2.0-2.5 cm in length along its major axis.Buds are carried on red pedicels 37 mm in length; red-purple spurs (RHS59A) are oval shaped and 3.5-5.0 cm in length.

Flowers borne.--The flowers are carried on stems that terminate abovethe foliage.

Quality of flowers.--Very heavy flowering

Petals.--Shape: Typical, two heart-shaped pairs of petals, with eachpetal being approximately 2.5-3.5 cm in width and 2.5-3.0 cm in length;and the remaining petal 3.5-4.0 in width and 2.0-2.5 cm in length.Color: Top side when opening 65B, fading to 65C; under side 65B; centereye is 58A. Number of petals: 5. Size of flowers: Very large,approximately 6.5 cm in diameter.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: One (1) in number. Anther shape: Round,color red. Pollen color: White. Pistils: Stigma shape: Round, colornearly white. Style color: Green. Ovaries: Four, 1 mm in size, green incolor.

Disease resistance.--No abnormal disease problems have been noted todate.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of impatiens plant named`Danimin`, as illustrated and described.